So, a few days ago, my cousin and I were watching Christmas Aliens. There is a part when Mikey is being dragged by a van, and he says something like
"Merry Bumping or Funky Christmas". We at first thought he said something else, but really, what is it that he says? If anyone remembers. Thanks.

So, a few days ago, my cousin and I were watching Christmas Aliens. There is a part when Mikey is being dragged by a van, and he says something like
"Merry Bumping or Funky Christmas". We at first thought he said something else, but really, what is it that he says? If anyone remembers. Thanks.

I think he says "Merry bumpy christmas."

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Why the shell am I here? Cause it's 3:15 in the morning and what else am I gonna do?

...it lists "The Christmas Aliens" as the 13th episode of season 3, but everywhere else I've seen it listed as the first. Is there any kind of validity to the list linked above? It links to the season 3 page on ninjaturtles.com and it's still there and has the same episode order as shown here.

I'm guessing 53 is the production number for the episode, while ninjaturtles.com lists it as 65, the sixty-fifth episode aired.

Originally, The Christmas Aliens was going to be the first episode of Season Three. But it was moved so that it could be aired on Christmas. Officially, it's the first, but everyone thinks of it as coming later in the season.

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panda_Kahn_fan

IDW took the OT straw and spun it into gold, while Platinum Dunes took the OT straw and spun it into manure.

I'd like to add some trivia here thanks to a site that doesn't have a link working properly, as hopefully the thread is to this board to what the "attempt to thoroughly reference the OT" thread on the General board. There's quite a bit of information that's not found on TMNTPedia in addition. It proves that you don't need to have the goofiness of the OT and still not have good pop culture references!

1. Things Change

The two police officers in the police car are actually Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. They created the Ninja Turtle franchise 1984.

This episode appears on the 2003 Ninja Turtle video game that's available for PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and XBOX.

The Purple Dragons first appeared in 1984 in the first ever Ninja Turtle comic book.

Michelangelo yells out "cowabunga" in this and in many future episodes. This was a very commonly used catchphrase in the original 1987 animation TV series.

In the original 1987 Ninja Turtle animated TV series, the Turtles fight punk thugs with tied connections to the Foot Clan, and then the Foot Clan members themselves. In this episode, the Turtles fight the Purple Dragons, which have direct ties to the Foot Clan, and then after that they fight the Foot Ninja Soldiers themselves.

2. A Better Mousetrap

First appearance of April O'Neil, restored in her original comic book roots as a scientist then an antique store owner.

First appearance of Baxter Stockman, restored in his original comic book roots.

This and the next episode is based on the second issue of the original Eastman and Laird's comic book series.

This episode is based on the "Things Change" level of the 2003 video game.

When Michelangelo says "let's leave the wall climbing to the guy in the red and blue tights, he's remembering Spiderman.

When Michelangelo thinks of names to call home, he's referencing super hero domain names: "Turtle Cave" is Batman's "Bat Cave," "Sewer of Solitude," is Superman's "Fortress Of Solitude," "School for Gifted Reptiles," is X-Man's "School For Gifted Youngsters," and "The Hall Of Ninjustice" is the Justice Force's "The Hall Of Justice."

The label on the canister of ooze is labeled "TGRI" which is referenced in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret Of The Oooze.

3. Attack Of The Mousers

This episode was adapted as Issue #3 of Dreamwave's TMNT comic. During the laser fight scene, the comic writers added the line, "does he expect us to talk?" "No Bond, he expects us to die," referencing the 1964 movie Goldfinger.

The line "can we keep her?" from Michelangelo's words, comes from his words in the first live-action movie.

4. Meet Casey Jones

Just like in the first original movie and Raphael comic book in 1987, Raphael was first to meet Casey Jones, while Casey Jones is beating up punk thugs.

In real life audiences were shocked, because Raphael did have intensions to kill Michelangelo, who showed great fear.

The previous Ninja Turtle TV series in 1987 and The Next Mutation in 1997, gave the turtles their own trademark vehicle. The 1987 aniamted TV series gave the turtles the Turtle Van (now called the Battle Shell), and in The Next Mutation gave Raphael his own motorcycle, just like in this series.

According to Casey Jones, he says that the warehouse where the Turtles keep the Battle Shell is on the corner of Eastman and Laird. Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird were the character creators and owners of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The first appearance of Casey Jones, the Battle Shell, and the Shell Cycle.

When Raphael makes a sharp sideways stop with the Battle Shell, it comes from a classic anime called Akira (198. Ironically, the voice of Kaneda from that anime is the same voice as Leonardo from the old Ninja Turtle animated TV series.

5. Nano

The Turtle try to dismantle the giant Nano robot with a trash compactor, which was similar on how to destroy the Terminator robots in the movie The Terminator. Then the Turtles dump the giant Nano robot into hot steal, which was how the Terminator robots were killed in Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

At the beginning of the episode, the Nano robots form a shape of a Pokeball from the 4Kids animation series Pokemon.

The Nano robots resemble Dregg's microbots from the 1987 animation TV series, that change shape and build/dismantle machines in short seconds.

Michelangelo says "I know it's been said before, but I got a bad feeling about this" which a character says this line in each of the Star Wars movies.

6. Darkness On The Edge Of Town

The protective glove looks to be for a left hand, giving the idea that Shredder is left-handed, considering he's the one who forged the Sword Of Tengu.

This episode appears in the first 2003 video game, but that level is titled "Tengu."

7. The Way Of Invisibility

Baxter has shown that he paid the price for the failure of the mousers, because his left eye is missing.

Casey and Raphael exchange insults, just like Casey and Donatello did in the first Ninja Turtle movie, but in alphabetical order.

Michelangelo says "And that's how they defeated the house that wouldn't leave." This is a skit from Saturday Night Live based on a house that overstays its welcome.

Casey says "cloaking devices. Are they Klingons?" This is a reference to the movie series Star Trek at which Klingons are a race of beings that have the ability to cloak their spaceships.

Leonardo mentions Bushido after Casey mispronounces it. Bushido is the Code Honor of Samurai, not Ninja. This is a reference to The Code Of Bushido.

8. Fallen Angel

The episode title is based on Lucifer, a fallen angel from the Bible.

Casey tells Angel that the warehouse is on the corner of Eastman and Laird, named after the Ninja Turtle character creators.

Michelangelo presses a remote control and the Battle Shell goes nuts. This is a reference to the James Bond (007) Tomorrow Never Dies, when BMW 750iL drives insainly around the airport.

9. Garbageman

This episode is based off an animated episode of Batman "The Forgotten" about a slob kidnapping homeless people and forcing them into slavery.

Michelangelo says "I'm not odd, I'm eccentric," which is a variation from the movie Speed when Howard Payne says "I'm not crazy; poor people are crazy. I'm eccentric."

This episode appears in the 2003 video game.

15. Notes From The Underground, Part 3

It's learned that the Turtle's Lair is formerly used by the Entity subterranean to study human life on Earth. Ironically, they are presented as beings of Earth, which separates connection with the Utrom race.

Fox Box used the promo title "Triple Play" with this episode.

It's learned that Quarry is a female.

This episode appears in the 2003 video game.

16. The King

April is watching the same monster movie Michelangelo does in the previous first part episode.

Cartoon Network accidentally aired this episode after airing the episode Triceraton Wars in their weekday Miguzi lineup. Normally episodes are aired in chronological order, and Triceraton Wars is the fifth episode of season 2.

Peter Laird was so satisfied with this episode, the paid a little extra to have this episode extended, which is available on DVD. Reruns of this episode include this new ending, which shows Donatello walking around a little more after exiting the portal feeling very frustrated with Kirby being gone.

Donatello's anti-gravity gun is based on an old sketch of him firing a Mac-10 machine gun.

This episode is based on the "Donatello Issue #1" of the original comic book series.

The name of this episode comes from an artist character of a famed comic book series Jack "King" Kirby. at which this episode's dedication to him shows up at the end.

When the turtles hide from the Chinese Food delivery man, Michelangelo hides by a chair, and replaced with a purple stuffed bear. This idea comes from the first original movie where Danny spots Michelangelo hiding under a table and replaced with a stuffed panda bear.

One of the monsters Kirby draws resembles Wingnut from episode "Zach And The Alien Invaders" of the original animated TV series.

A warrior resembling Thor says "you shall not pass" comes from the movie The Lord Of The Rings when Gandalf the Grey says when about to battle Balrog, a creature of flame and shadow sent to kill him.

Due to its appearance, it is clear that the city which the heroes were guarding is based on the Marvel Comics version of Asgard, the home of the Mighty Thor. In the comics, Asgard is reached by a rainbow bridge, and has similar architecture. (Also, the heroes themselves look similar to the Asgardians, and one even uses a throwing hammer like Thor does.)

Being a tribute to Jack Kirby, the inhabitants of the fantasy world beyond the portal resemble Kirby's own New Gods which in turn were loosely based on old Norse Mythology--including the the rainbow bridge and a Thor-like hammer-wielding warrior. Any similarities to Marvel's Asgard, Thor, etc. are unavoidable since they are also based on old Norse Mythology. Finally, the monsters attacking the human-like inhabitants are similar to Jack Kirby's parademons which are an integral part of the New Gods mythos--all of which eventually being absorbed into the more popular Superman mythos.

"Life at best is bittersweet", the message on Kirby's final note to Donatello is an actual Jack Kirby quote. In the final issue (#1 of Jack Kirby's "Mister Miracle" (Originally published in 1974 and recently reprinted in trade paperback form under the title "Jack Kirby's Fourth World"), it's Darkseid's last line after he fails to prevent Scott Free and Barda's wedding However, he does succeed in driving them to flee from Earth to New Genesis as soon as vows are exchanged. The full quote was, "The ceremony had deep feeling but little joy. But then life at best is bittersweet."

Fox Box used the promo title "Shredder Double-Header" for this episode and its second part.

This episode is based on "Leonardo Issue #1" of the original comic book series.

Many events are from the first original Ninja Turtle movie: Leonardo battling the Foot on a rooftop (it's Raphael in the movie), being thrown through April's apartment window, the fight in the apartment/antique shop, Casey Jones joins in on the fight, and April's apartment and antique shop being burned down.

The title of this episode Shredder Strikes Back comes from the title Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back.

18. Shredder Strikes Back, Part 2

Character producers Kevin Eastman and Peter Lairds, as cops, return in this episode.

This episode is based on issue #10 of the comic book series.

Casey says "where's the babe? You okay, babe" which is a line that Casey says in the first Ninja Turtle movie during the apartment/shop fight.

Fox Box used the promo title "Shredder Double-Header" for this episode and its first part.

19. Tale Of Leo

This is the first time Leonardo used one of his brother's weapons. In this case, Michelangelo's nunchucks.

Baxter's appearance has chance once again: eye patch on his left eye, a robotic arm, and floating wheel chair, because of his punishment back in The Way Of Invisibility.

The red ribbon a mouser gives to Baxter for him to fake the Turtle's autopsy is the same red ribbon Raphael uses for his sais.

This is the first time one of the turtles is seen shedding tears (crying). In this case, Raphael.

This episode is based off Issue #11 of the original comic book series.

The idea of running to an old farmhouse in the middle of nowhere in Massachusetts after a battle against the Foot that goes very bad comes from the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie.

20. Monster Hunter

This time Casey hangs out with Michelangelo and Donatello. Usually he hangs with Raphael.

Considering the monster hunter's Australian accent, she's a prodigy of Steve Irwin.

21. Return To New York, Part 1

When Donatello types in the code to enter the lair, it sounds like the main theme of the series.

This episode is based off Issue #19 of the original comic book series.

22. Return To New York, Part 2

Shredder made three genetic clones of himself: a four arm, a lobster claw, and a shorty.

The first appearance of the Mystical Ninjas. Each of them represent the different elements of Earth: earth, fire, water, wind, and metal.

Splinter says the line "in the words of a great master, it ain't over until it's over," which comes from the line that baseball player Yogi Berra said.

The Sword Of Tengu is destroyed in this episode, but doesn't make its final appearance in this episode, because it shows up in flashbacks in Secret Origins.

Baxter's armor suit is based off the story-arc from Volume 2 comic book series issues #1 - #9 where Baxter replaces his body with a battle armor suit.

This episode is based off comic issue #21 of the original comic book series.

In Issue #21, Leonardo actually kills Shredder when he decapitates him, and the Foot remains active, but in this episode Shredder later keeps returning.

This episode appears in the video game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus and the first 2003 video game.

24. Lone Raph And Cub

A reporter captured some gangs on camera, which is what April did in the original series.

The gang's leader mentions a big gang war, which foreshadows the season two episode City At War.

On the "Search For Splinter" volume on DVD, Peter Laird mentions in an interview that this episode title comes from the Japan Anime Lone Wolf And Cub. Peter Laird also happens to be a fan of that anime manga. And ironically, in Tyler's flashback, mentions what his favorite movie is, which is Lone Wolf And Cub.

The gang is called The Mob, which is a prodigy of Italian-American crime syndicates which deal in murder, stealing, drug trafficking, smuggling, and protection in underground urban cities.

Raphael says the line "an old guy once said anyone who hates dogs and kids can't be called bad" at which comedian W.C Fields says.

25. Search For Splinter, Part 1

This episode is based on Issue #4 of the original comic book series.

TCRI stands for "Technical Cosmic Research Institute" just like in the original comic book series. However, the initials TGRI from the second movie stands for "Technical Global Research Institute."

Casey shouts out "gimme toaster or give me death," at which is similar that Patrick Henry said when he said "give me liberty or give me death."

Michelangelo recalls the Matrix trilogy, when he points out the stasis pods in the chamber the Turtles find Splinter in.

One of the workers said "But you touched Newman, and he touched that guy in the lobby," and the other worker annoyingly said "Newman." This is a reference to the show Seinfeld at which Jerry Seinfeld says "Newman" in a way to show he's annoyed.

This episode is part of the video game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus.

Donatello says the line "ladies and gentlemen, I give you Neo. I mean Leo." This is a reference to The Matrix movies. In those films, the hero Neo had the ability to manipulate the reality of the virtual reality world of The Matrix. In this episode, Leonardo was easily able to manipulate the Utrom's VR world (using his mind to will the Sword of Tengu into his hands), thus making him similar to Neo in this case.

There are references from the 1987 animated TV series: Krang has a short cameo role as an Utrom when the Utroms are escaping, April dressed all in yellow acting like a TV reporter for Channel 6 news.

There are pivotal points in this episode: Shredder is an evil Utrom, Hamato Yoshi was a guardian to the Utroms, Leatherhead's introduction is foreshadowed.

The general seen in this and the last episode is a caricature of former NYC mayor David Dinkins, probably best known for the ridiculously oversized blue helmet he wore while riding atop a tank several years ago following some disaster or another on the east coast.

Michelangelo says the line, "Get it off! Or there's gonna be a tiny Shredder alien busting out of Raph's chest!" This quote is based off of the facehuggers in the Alien series. After the egg had hatched, the facehugger would attach itself to a human or another creature and implant an alien embryo inside it. Once developed enough, the alien would burst out of the creature's chest.

Michelangelo screams "It's the prisoner, dude!" The Prisoner was a classic series starring Patric Mcgoohan in the late 60's, the controversial series involved an agent of M.I.5 being imprisoned in a village by a secret organization, and kept there until he revealed why he resigned. The final episode "Fallout" dealt with the agent discovering the identity of his nemesis, Number One, only to discover he was...himself, something he had not expected, The Shredder is revealed also, in this episode, to be something other than what he has been shown to be to the viewer.

35. The Ultimate Ninja

This episode took the place of "Reflections", originally scheduled to air on February 7, 2004.

Donatello points out that if it wasn't for Shredder crashing the Utroms' ship almost a millennium ago, they wouldn't exist. Because the Utroms were on Earth courtesy of the Shredder, the built the TCRI plant. Then they developed the mutagen, which was dropped into the sewers. If the Utroms weren't trying to find a way back home because of the Shredder's meddling, the Turtles would never have been accidentally mutated.

This is the first clip show episode of the series.

Obviously, Michelangelo's "Game Dude" is a Game Boy. However, it seems that 4Kids didn't feel like asking Nintendo for permission to use this name.

Michelangelo says the famous line, "what you talkin' about Willis?" This is a famous line that Arnold Jackson (played by Gary Coleman) says in almost every episode to his brother Willis Jackson (played by Tod Bridges) in the 1978 - 1986 TV series Diff'rent Strokes.

Michelangelo says and mimics Darth Vader's voice "join me, Leonardo. I am your father" which is line said by Darth Vader at the end of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, but it is tweaked a bit.

37. Modern Love - The Return Of Nano

In the end, the Turtles gave April the stolen money that the crook stolen in a previous episode. With the money, April was able to rebuild her shop.

The Eastman and Laird cartoon counterparts made a cameo at the end, arresting the crook.

Harry says the line "like taking candy from a bunch of babies," which is a prodigy of the idiom "it's just like taking candy from a baby!"

38. What A Croc!

The Turtles finally return to their old lair after abandoning it in A Better Mouse Trap. Leatherhead's turned what's left of it into his own personal laboratory.

April moved back into her apartment in this episode, partly from living with the Turtles and her gain of adequate money to rebuild it.

Baxter Stockman makes his appearance in this episode as a head in a glass jar encased in an Utrom exoskeleton. He will use the exoskeleton as a body in City at War, but in a different manner.

The Turtlebot was actually an upgrade of Metalhead, a robot created by Shredder and Krang in the original series to destroy the Turtles. The original Turtlebot, Metalhead, had personalities of others. Metalhead, only christened as the Evil Turtlebot, was featured in the 2003 video game. This Turtlebot was the precursor to the one in the show, being able to predict and copy the players' moves.

Leatherhead is similar to Hank McCoy, A.K.A. the Beast. Both are scientific geniuses cursed with a beastial exterior and rage.

There appear to be several references to Dr. Connors from Spider-man combined in Leatherhead: an intelligent mind and reptilian exterior. Another one that may be less noticeable is his lab coat. One of the arms of the coat appears to have been ripped off and loosely sewn back on. Dr. Connors became the Lizard in an effort to replace his lost arm.

39. Return To The Underground

Quarry's real name is revealed to be Sydney after the Turtles test the crystalized serum on Quarry.

Before the mindless Quarry attacks, the Turtles find a room with several more crystalized ancient residents of the city. This small addition is not addressed again in this episode, but will be much later in The Entity Below.

First Appearance of Karai, Shredder's Second-In-Command and adopted daughter, Karai has been a long standing member of the MIRAGE comics for many years, although she first appeared long after Saki's demise.

This is the first episode where the Foot Elite Ninja actually talk.

Baxter Stockman's head is on the Utrom's exo-suit (where the head goes) instead of the stomach cavity.

Raphael says the line "just your friendly turtleman." This is a play on the line "Just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!" from the Spider-Man comics and movie.

Leonardo says the line "you look more like Raph-zan, lord of the jungle to me," and Raphael responds "and what does that make you? Jane or Cheeta?" This is a reference to Tarzan.

Donatello says "time to try one of my favorite stunts." Donatello is trying to spin around on his bo staff to attack a lot of similar looking mobsters. Neo pulls the same trick in Matrix Reloaded. Unlike Donatello, Neo is successful.

This episode and its two other parts are based on comic book issues #50 - #62 title City At War.

41. City At War, Part 2

The way Karai held Leo hostage at the end of this episode by pinning him down and pointing a sword at him is exactly how the Shredder held Leo in the first Ninja Turtles movie to force the other three to surrender.

Michelangelo says "you got it, Hoss." Hoss is the name of one of the main characters in the western rancher show Bonanza. Donatello wanted Michelangelo to 'herd' the robot over towards the electrical lines.

Michelangelo says, "Captain, America, eat your heart out!" Captain America has been a staple of Timley/Marvel Comics since 1941. A patriotic super soldier, Captain America has fought in both World War II and present day with only his shield and his courage.

This episode is based on issues #50 - #62.

42. City At War, Part 3

Hun for some reason has a grudge against Karai.

At the end of the episode, The Shredder is seen being re-generated by Worms, this is exactly how Shredder was resurrected in the classic MIRAGE Comics.

This episode is based on comic book issues #50 - #62 of the MIRAGE comic book series.

43. Junklantis

The episode centers on Michelangelo and Donatello.

Michelangelo sings, "Rule Britannia! Britannia rules the waves! I don't know the rest of this stupid song!" Rule Britannia is a patriotic song sung in the United Kingdom.

Michelangelo says "To the Shell-Sub, boy wonder." This is a Batman reference, specifically the 1960s series when Batman had a Bat-everything. 'Boy wonder' refers to Batman's young sidekick, Robin.

Michelangelo says to Donatello, "aren't you too short for a junk trooper?" This is a reference to the line from Star Wars Episode IV. When Luke and Han show up to save Leia, she immediately says, "Aren't you a little short to be a storm trooper?"

Michelangelo says "I feel like Jonah on this freak whale thingy." This is a reference to the biblical story in which God tested a man after he is swallowed by a large fish, which in modern times has been replaced by a whale.

44. The Golden Puck

This is another time when we see the turtles without their usual masks.

When Mikey says "Room service! More towels for you!" in a foreign girly voice, this is similar to David Spade's character in Tommy Boy when he is trying to get Chris Farley to open the door to their hotel room.

45 Rogue In The House, Part 1

It's learned that Earth's atmosphere (or any oxygen-rich air) affects Triceratrons much like paint fumes if inhaled: it addles their brains and makes them hallucinate, but too much will eventually kill them, hence why Zog confused the Turtles and Splinter for his superior officers (and one of the Turtle's sewer cycles as a Fugitoid) once his gas mask was damaged in their encounter.

The Triceraton, whose name we found out is Zog, returns from Secret Origins (1) and sees the Turtles as his commanding officers as a result of breathing toxic oxygen.

The 'Foot Gunner' from the TMNT Video game makes its first appearance in this episode as the 'Foot Mech.

The show's running gag seems to be showing less and less of Baxter Stockman. He is now just a floating brain and eyeball in a tank of solution with a mike (and a volume control knob) attached.

Baxter's new appearance is very similar to Robocop's nemesis Cain in Robocop 2. In the end of the movie, the only thing which was left from Cain was his spine, brain, and eye. They were all gathered in a one big jar.

46. Rogue In The House, Part 2

This episode is the final level in the video game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus.

In the videogame counterpart seen in TMNT 2: Battle Nexus, The ending is nearly identical: After Zog sacrifices himself to defeat the Shredder, Slashuur comes in and teleports Splinter and the Turtles to the dock, Slashuur bids farewell until they fight in the Battle Nexus. Shredder being rescued was not seen, but Stockman rising up from the watery depths was slightly different, except he says "You fools... I'm still alive!" and he does his evil laugh as he floats towards NY.

Zog dies in this episode.

Michelangelo says the line, "there's no need to fear, Michelangelo is here!" Michelangelo's heroic entrance is coupled with a variation of Underdog's famous catchphrase, "There's no need to fear, Underdog is here!"

47. April's Artifact

This is the first time we see Raph's fear (or hatred as he keeps saying) of bugs. This is later shown in other episodes.

The FoxBox had a blooper of this episode made when April asks the Turtles to help out with the cleaning of her store. She calls Donatello "Mike," and he corrects her. Mikey then says that they may need intialized belt buckles, making a reference to the 80s-90s cartoon.

Some of the songs used in this episode are direct homages/parodies of music heard from Phil Collins.

In Predator, the characters covered themselves in mud to hide their scent from the creatures. April and the Turtles did that here to hide their scents from the insects.

When April rises out of the mud, she does it in the same manner Sylvester Stallone did in the action film Rambo.

[CONTAINS A CURSE WORD] April says the line, "get away from him, you witch!" This episode makes a reference to the Aliens movie franchise, when April cries out this quote while saving Raphael from the hornet queen- a reference to the famous quote made by Sigourney Weaver's character in the movie, Aliens, when saving a little girl from the alien queen: "Get away from her, you bitch!"

First appearance of Combat Cruisers. All four Turtles got to drive those tri-wheeled motorcycles.

Michelangelo goes to Hampton, MA to get the next issue of his favorite comic book series. Hampton, MA is where the Ninja Turtle comics are first created.

Episode is based on issue #15 of the original comic book series.

The Justice Force seems to be a geriatric amalgam of The X-Men and the Fantastic Four. Also: "Metalhead", the name of one of the aged superheroes, was also the name of an action figure from the nineties canon: a robotic turtle. I forget offhand if he appeared in the series, however.

Dr. Dome, an original member of the Justice Force, has a name similar to Marvel Comics supervillain Dr. Doom. They are only similar in name, and nothing else.

Justice Force's name is a parody of DC Comics' Justice League of America (JLA). The most important members of JLA usually consist of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Green Lantern, but almost every hero in the DC universe is or has been a member, and the current roster may not have some of the heroes listed above.

Metalhead's power is alot like Medusa from the Avengers. Both can make their hair move.

49. Big Brawl, Part 1

The flashback of Splinter's battle with Drako explains how Splinter injured his leg and now has to use a walking stick. [View Clip]

This episode and it's other three parts appear in the video game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus, but it's not a level, it's a tournament fighter zone.

A monster and one of the human heroes from The King are in the Battle Nexus Tournament.

This episode marks the reappearance of Draximus (seen in the crowd of competitors before the Nexus Tournament) the Triceraton Warrior {from the Turtles in Space saga}, and The Ultimate Ninja.

This was unofficially the last episode of Season Two in the American scheduling. However, in other nations The Big Brawl quadrilogy was aired in its entirety.

50. Big Brawl, Part 2

In this version, Usagi appears without his "mon" (badge of his clan) on his kimono. His sleeves are also tied and gathered in all his appearances, which in the comics he only did when working, not fighting.

Another character makes an appearance from Usagi Yojimbo's universe, Gennosuke, Usagi's "traveling companion" in many of his comics. Usagi is right to question Gen's attendance at the battle royale: he is a bounty hunter, not a samurai.

Donatello loses to a creature who loses the next match to a monster straight out of "The King". But back in that episode, Donny knocks out several of those monsters.

First apperance of Usagi Yojimbo, a comic star in his own right, whose creator shares a friendship with TMNT creators Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. As a result, he has also appeared in the classic TMNT cartoons and Archie comics.

Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Splinter won the first round. Donatello was the only one who didn't.

Although Gennosuke in not a practicing samurai and has never served a lord, he is the son of a samurai; In ancient Japan, being the child or wife of a samurai put you in the same social class as samurai.

Usagi says, "you'll never change Gen-Chan." Throughout these four episodes, honorifics are used abundantly. Usagi's quote, refering to Gennosuke, uses the honorific "chan", giving Gen an "informal-friend" title. Other honorifics used in these episodes are "san" (common, non-family title), and "sama" (very formal title).

51. Big Brawl, Part 3

According to Turtles in Space (and later Rogue in the House), Triceratons breathe a mixture of nitrogen and sulfur. Since there doesn't seem to be an atmospheric converter hooked onto Traximus, it can only be assumed that the Nexus has some sort of universal atmosphere.

Although Michelangelo beats Raphael, he does it without hitting him once. Mikey just gets under Raph's skin, so he loses his cool and charges straight into a wall. So whilst Mikey did beat Raph, it's yet to be seen if he would beat him if he actually fought him.

At this episode's conclusion, Michelangelo is the only Turtle still in the Battle Nexus Tournament.

52. Big Brawl, Part 4

In season 1 episode 4, Meet Casey Jones, the episode begins with Mikey and Raph sparring. Mikey is seen having the upper hand until Raph losses control of his temper. This reflects the idea that Mikey does have the skill to challenge Raph.

Of the contestants, Leonardo is the only one who did not have a fair shot at winning the Battle Nexus championship, something no-one, including Leo, ever mentions. Usagi's chance was also ruined since the Gyoji implied that he might have been the one to unfairly injure Leo, thus disqualifying him. We don't know what would have happened if either of these two had had a fair chance to win.

Mikey may not have literally kicked Raph's butt, but he did it figuratively by knowing his brother well enough to know that if he egged on Raph, he would basically defeat himself, saving Mikey the trouble.

Usagi is the third person to fight using Don's bo staff, the first person being Shredder in Shredder Strikes Back, Part Two, and the second person being Leo in What a Croc.

Raphael says the line, "it's not nice to invade Mr. Raphy's neighborhood," which comes from the title of the children's show "Mr. Roger's Neighborhood."

The title of this episode and the following two episodes related is an allusion to the 1978 arcade game, Space Invaders. The episodes have nothing to do with the actual game besides sharing the same title.

Michelangelo says "prepare to be assimilated" which is a very common line in the Star Trek series.

Michelangelo says the phrase 'it's the end of life as we know it, and I don't feel fine." REM has a song entitled It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine). Michelangelo is referencing that REM song in his line of dialogue.

The new Justice Force roster includes: Silver Sentry, Ananda (daughter of Battlin Bernice and Dr. Dome), Metalhead and 2 new superheroes; a male called Tsunami who appears to have hydrokinetic powers and a female called Chrysalis who appears to be a sort of alien fairy (we see her manifest magical energy wings on her back).

The Justice Force has changed since Ep. #48. It now includes Ananda, the daughter of Battlin Bernice and Doctor Dome, who pilots her father's Domebot, Metalhead, and the Silver Sentry. Also the Sentry had made an amusing cameo in the previous Justice Force episode, as Donatello's flying toy.

The Shredder and Karai return in a cameo in this episode; they are now residing in Japan.

The Fugitoid says, "Greater love has no robot than this, that he lay down his RAM for his friends." In the prologue, Prof. Honeycutt makes this remark about his plan to sacrifice himself in order to stop the war between the Federation and the Triceratons. This quote is lifted from John 15:13 of the Bible, which reads "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Commander Mozar shows his true colors in this episode when he hesitates when ordered to cut the Triceraton mothership off from the rest of the fleet (which would strand their soldiers in space) & later orders his men to surrender to the rebels.

The Triceraton War ends with this episode.

The Fugitoid "dies" in this episode, or rather his body is left without his primary conscience, Honeycutt would return in a formless capacity in "Mission of Gravity."

Baxter Stockman, in the Utrom robot body, makes a cameo appearance in Leatherhead's hallucinations. Nice attention to detail since that is how Leatherhead would remember Baxter, and not as the disembodied brain he would become.

This episode is the first time Raph says the full name of one of the turtles, other than himself. [View Clip]

This is the first time Donatello uses a shuriken star. Instead of in battle, it was to deactivate the land mine Leonardo stepped on.

At the end, the Turtles find Leatherhead a home that resembles the subway station that was used for their movie counterparts for the second and third movies.

Based on Issue Six of the original Tales of the TMNT comic series.

61. H.A.T.E.

The H.A.T.E. leader mentions an alien being chased by a mob down Avenger Alley in New York City. Back in the episode, Touch and Go, Raphael was chased by a mob down an alley he names as "Avenger Alley." Most likely, Raph was the so-called "alien" being referenced here.

Even though Leo appears in this episode, he isn't part of the action, nor does he do any fighting.

Casey's mother made April go through her "test," even though she knew they weren't engaged. She must have realized they have feelings for each other, since she was observant enough to notice Leo and Splinter.

Casey's mother revealed that his first name is Arnold. Arnold Casey Jones.

Adapts Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book Issue #12.

After Raph pulls one of the H.A.T.E. guys off the cliff, the next one that he knocks off the gatling gun looks like Sub-Zero from Mortal Kombat.

Michelangelo says, "Hey, pal, didn't your mom tell about these things? You'll put your eye out, kid." This "eye out" line about guns is extremely similar to the excuse Raphie receives frequently in the 1983 movie A Christmas Story about why he shouldn't get a rifle for Christmas: "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"

Michelangelo says, "E.T phone home." E.T. says this exact line in E.T.-The Extraterrestrial. This is probably the most famous line spoken by an alien.

Donatello says, "Forget it William Tell." Raphael and Michelangelo were using a bows and arrows to hit apples stacked on top of Donatello's head. Their actions as well as Donatello's line are references to the legendary hero William Tell.

62. Nobody's Fool

This is Stockman's first appearance in his new look: a hologram over his tank a robotic arm and self-movement system.

Mr. Touch and Mr. Go return in the in this episode.

The Turtle Titan costume Michelangelo wore in "The Unconvincing Turtle Titan" returns in this episode for a few minutes.

Adapted from Issue 2 of the original Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic.

First animated appearance of Nobody.

Where Silver Sentry resembles Superman, Nobody resembles Batman.

63. New Blood

Leonardo apologizes to a Karai foot mech before destroying it, indicating he feels more than just trust where she is concerned.

Previously titled "The New Guard."

The TRI Base featured in this episode bears a strong similarity to The Technodrome, Shredder's war machine from the original series.

First appearance of Dr. Chapman, The Shredder's new scientific adviser.

The book the bullies take from Casey's friend is a copy of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Raphael's teaching technique was to try to find the young Casey Jones the right weapon. Casey later got his weapon of choice from one of the bullies, and thus began his use of a hockey stick as his favorite personal weapon.

The younger Turtles was teaching a younger Casey Jones, but they don't know it. At the end, it was revealed that it is Casey Jones because he can't remember the battle cry Mikey taught him, so he made up his own, the battle cry he still uses.

The younger days of the Turtles are revisited once more, the first being in the episode "Tales of Leo."

This episode is similar to The Simpsons episode "The Way We Weren't" where Homer and Marge found out that they actually met when they were kids instead of in High School.

When Usagi gives Leo a sword as a gift, this sword look just like the sword Oroku Saki gave Leo in "The Shredder Strikes Part One." [View Clip]

Mikey has his mask off for most of this episode.

Mikey's pet cat, Klunk, makes his first appearance since the comics in this episode.

Usagi Yojimbo and the Silver Sentry return in this episode.

This story is based on the December 1985 Michaelangelo #1 titled The Christmas Aliens by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird where he retrieved stolen dolls of the same name during the Christmas season.

66. The Darkness Within

Donatello is not just bi-lingual, but he is MULTI-lingual. He can speak and read English, Japanese, Egyptian, and Italian.

Klunk, the orange cat Mikey got in "The Christmas Aliens", makes a short appearance in the beginning of this episode.

Raphael's greatest fear is to give into his anger and become his very enemy: The Shredder, this is a reference to a popular story arc used in the now discontinued "Third Volume" of the Ninja Turtles comics which were published under IMAGE, Peter Laird has since confirmed this volume is the only one of the four TMNT titles set in the original universe to have no place in continuity.

Donatello says, "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here." That's an exact quote from the book Dante's Inferno. This Italian inscription is placed aboce the Gate of Hell (not the opening) and is not included in the nine circles. Similarly, the entrance into the basement wasn't the entrance into the Turtles' nightmare (a hell of itself) but the cocoons they were entrapped in.

There are, intentional or not being the question, apparent references to the works of H.P. Lovecraft in this episode. The creature at the end bears a slight resembelence to Cthulu. The old man who disintegrates at the end of the story can also be equated to one of his short stories, "The Colour Out Of Space," made into the movie "Die, Monster, Die!" with Boris Karloff.

67. Mission Of Gravity

The words "kill" and "dead" were said--directly--this episode, rather then use synonyms.

Hun and Stockman aren't exactly friends, but they are no longer enemies, work together and are both being duped and are doing the same thing about it. Shredder and Hun aren't getting along anymore, Hun is like Stockman... a failure.

First time Hun suffers consequences at Oroku Saki's hands.

By the end of the episode, it seems that the city of Beijing is now facing the wrong direction when it is returned to terra firma.

Professor Honeycutt returns in this episode as a partial core consciousness download.

Baxter gets yet another new body in this episode. A humanoid configuration without a physical head; where its head should be is the hologram projection of Baxter's human head that was also used on Mark II and III of the jar containing the remains of his nervous system. His brain is now stored in the chest. Stockman changes bodies more often than the Doctor on Doctor Who.

68. The Entity Below

The Turtle Tunneler returns in this episode.

The Green Woman from the episode "Monster Hunter" is a human mutated by the underground race.

This is the first episode aired on Cartoon Network.

The Underground turned out to be part of the lost city of Atlantis. It was indicated there are more underground cities of Atlantis somewhere.

Donatello says the line, "Itlintias is Atlantis!" The underground turned out to be the lost city of Atlantis who's name was originally Itlintias. This is not the first time Atlantis has popped up in TMNT. In the original series Atlantis was featured in 2 episodes. Once while they were in Greece where April was the reincarnation of a Queen of Atlantis and had a necklace that made Atlantis rise out of the ocean untill Donatello destroyed the necklace (causing Atlantis to fall back) and a 2nd time when the turtles helped Merdude find his way back to Atlantis, this time off the coast of New York.

69. Time Travails

The Aardvark at the beginning of the new time period is a character from an old series of comic books and appeared in the 1980's comic of this episode.

Drako and The Ultimate Nina return in this episode.

The turtles' knight armor has been adapted into a toy line.

This episode first aired on Cartoon Network.

First appearance of Renet.

Adapted from Issue# 8 of the original TMNT comic book.

In another concession to the dictates of kid's animation, Renet is considerably less busty than her original comic book incarnation.

In the original comic book version the Turtles were teamed up with fellow indie comic character Cerebus. He is absent from this adaptation due to the rights to his character not being acquired in time. However, a reference is made to him briefly in the form of a masked aardvark witnessing the Turtles and Renet's arrival.

Savanti Romero (the satyr-like demon sorcerer) was the enemy the turtles, Renet, and Cerebus faced in the original comic TMNT #8. Like the Savanti in the cartoon, the comic Savanti wanted the Time Sceptre to take revenge on Lord Simultanious. He too summoned up zombies to try and stop the turtles and their crew. And just like in the cartoon, comic book Savanti was banished to yet another time by Lord Simultanious.

Draco and the Ultimate Ninja return in this episode as a merged being.

The scene where Raphael is eaten by a huge cockroach and then comes bursting out of its stomach, is virtually identical to when Agent K from Men in Black is swallowed by an alien cockroach. After retrieving his gun, K then comes exploding out of the cockroach's chest, covered in goo, just like Raph.

This episode seems to be a riff on the movie "Time Bandits." In the film, the heroes steal a map that will allow them to travel anywhere in time (with mixed results). Hot on their heals is the the Lord of Time (AKA God) who appears as a giant Oz like head. Much like in this episode, when the Lord of Time finally catches up to them, he turns out to be a harmless old man.

The castle in this episode bares a striking resemblance to Castle Grayskull, a noted location from the various incarnations of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.

70. Hun On The Run

This is the last time until the Ninja Tribunal Season where Karai and the turtles work together.

The quote from Bishop "Seems the odds have changed. But I never play the odds." was used twice. First was in this episode. Second was in a video game called Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Mutant Nightmare after you beat Bishop.

An interesting brother-sister dynamic between Karai and Hun is seen here, with Shredder as a very strange father indeed. Though intelligent, Baxter Stockman's biggest character flaw is his overreaching arrogance and naivete. Considering there's a new rooster in the henhouse--Dr. Chaplin--he's no longer truly indispensable. This episode may be Stockman's last hurrah. He probably should have known better, cooled it with the schemes, and just lain low.

Apparently, Shredder is not aware that Hun conspired with Baxter to foil his plans in Mission Of Gravity. He says to Hun's face that he all is but punishing him merely for repeated failures and not treason by his words that Hun has always been unquestioningly loyal.

This episode first aired on Cartoon Network.

Donatello gains a train, but Raph's Shell Cycle is destroyed.

71. Reality Check

Utromidium, the weakness of the Super Turtles, is obviously named after the Utroms, the beings responsible for the Shredder's appearances, and for the Turtles' being.

At the beginning of the episode, Mikey's main focus is on his comics. Interesting that he wound up in a world that had superheroes.

Mikey's cat Klunk makes yet another brief appearance at the beginning of the episode. [View Clip]

Ultimate Draco returns.

A classic Ninja Turtles cartoon in-joke makes his way into the episode, whilst looking through a database of villains The Turtles come across the "Transmagrafier", which was a device used in the original series.

This episode is adapted from Issue Seven of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The 'Penultimate Nullificator' is a spoof of the 'Ultimate Nullifier' used in the Fantastic Four comics.

Grid-X says, "He's infiltrated the Shell of Justice, we better scan him." The headquarters for the Super Turtles is the "Shell of Justice," which is a reference to the "Hall of Justice" from the 1970's Superfriends series and most recently in the 2006 comic book run of Justice League of America.

At the beginning of the episode, Raphael and Casey are working on their bikes. Interesting that Raph wound up in a world that had maxed out bike races.

Look closely at the cheering crowd that is shown after the second race. On the far right of the screen are two familiar looking aliens from the "Turtles in Space" arch. First is the alien cook from the Spaceport Inn in "The Trouble with Triceratons." Beside him is the alien prisoner that the turtles met in the lunch room in "The Big House."

The intro of the episode features the same moment from "Reality Check," from Raphael's point of view.

Raphael comes face to face with the world and characters of Peter Laird and Jim Lawson's highly regarded "Planet Racers" series of graphic novels.

Stockman's jar (which contains his brain) is now attached to Hun's body.

From the size and shape of his coat, it looks as if Leo still has his shell; but with the coat on, we can't tell if his shell has been damaged or weakened. It is also possible that during the years, Karai has developed a sword that could slice through their shells.

Donatello's exo-suit is a reference to the non-canon Volume 3 of the Mirage comics, where Donatello was rebuilt as a cyborg after a spine-shattering accident.

This episode also contains a reference to the Image comic--- Michelangelo has lost his arm in this episode, an event that happened to Leonardo around #18 or so of the Image comic.

The Shredder's apparance in this episode (with his Utrom body attached as his head)is a reference to an ARCHIE comics universe storyline in which Krang surgically attached himself to Shredder's body. Also, the eye patched Raphael and the blind Leonardo (substituting for Michelangelo) are references.

This episode first aired on Cartoon Network.

Apparently, Stockman DID indeed get a similar fate to that of Hector Con Carne from the show Evil Con Carne.. His brain was still in a jar, but it was attached to Hun's body. One of the Shredder's apropos punishments, it would seem.

In the beginning, while the Shredder is addressing the public, Karai-Bots are shown blasting machine guns connected to their arms and stepping over human bones. The shots are similar to those of the grim future portrayed in the Terminator movies.

At the beginning of the episode, Leo's main focus is on his training. Interesting that he wound up in a world that required more of his ninja fighting skills than any of his brothers, even Donatello.

The scene where Leonardo meets Tomoe Ame and Lord Noriyuki is based on the beginning of the Usagi Yojimbo comic, when the pair first encounter Miyamoto Usagi. In the comic, Tomoe believes that Usagi is another mercernary trying to kill Lord Noriyuki, but Usagi defeats her and explains that he isn't there to kill anyone. In the show, Leonardo takes Usagi's place, and they are attacked by Mogura ninja, as opposed to various bounty hunters. Both encounter the Neko ninja.

The various clan names are the Japanese words for the animal that each clan is composed of. Leo is a "Kame" ninja, and Kame means turtle. The mole ninjas that attack are called "Mogura" ninjas, "Mogura" means mole. The "Neko" warriors are cats, and so forth.

The group's escape by jumping off a cliff into the river is similar to that Usagi's and Gen's escape from Neko ninja in "Shades of Green, Part I", of Usagi's comic. (Intrestingly enough, Shades of Green is also the beginning of a three-book series featuring the TMNT!)

An overlooked character in this episode is Chizu, the leader of the Neko ninja. Her relationship to Usagi is very similar to that of Leo and Karai.

Two of the three ninjas clans are seen in this episode, the Mogura (moles) and Neko (cats). The Komori Ninja (bats) are not mentioned.

Splinter lectures Leonardo on the "Falling Rain" style in the beginning of the episode. Tomoe is the undisputed master of the "Falling Rain Style" of swordsmanship, in the comic.

The characters in the world Leonardo is sent to are all from the "Usagi Yojimbo" comic book series. Leonardo met with Miyamoto Usagi and Gennosuke before, in the Battle Nexus.

Much like the other episodes in this saga, this episode will feature the same moment at the beginning of "Reality Check," except it'll be from Leonardo's Point of View.

The capital of Usagi's world is Ito, close to the spelling of the Japanese capital during the Tokugawa Shogunate, Edo. However, Edo would be renamed Tokyo during the Meiji Restoration of the 1870s.

Leatherhead returns, having been responsible for Professor Honeycutt's new body.

The episode was previously scheduled to air March 18th on Cartoon Network.

Bishop yells, "I have created life!" In the classic horror story,Frankenstein, a scientist endeavors to create life. There was also the old horror movie stereotypical black and white laboratory shown at the beginning.

77. Exodus, part 1

This is the only time the Turtles fight the Shredder while he's not in his armor.

Hun screamed "Krang!" as he fell into the pit below the space shuttle. This was a cleverly plotted callback to Krang of the original series: a alien brain warlord of Dimension X.

Hun finally discovers Shredder is an Utrom.

Exodus, the episode title, was also the second book of the Old Testament.

Shredder's robot body broke like the T-1000. Shredder got frozen with the liquid nitrogen, then his robo-suit broke.

This episode appears in the video game level final Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Mutant Nightmare.

78. Exodus, part 2

In most cartoons, the words dead, death, killed, etc. are rarely used, let alone any animated character ever should actually experience them. This episode could very well contain the highest body count in US animated TV series history. A total of 4.2 million beings, at the least, are said to have "perished" by the Shredder's actions according to the Utroms trying him.

Bishop and Stockman now have formed a strong partnership.

Shredder's real Utrom name is revealed: Ch'rell.

This marks the first time that a season of this series has aired in it's entirety without an opening for the fall season.

Exodus, the episode title, was also the second book of the Old Testament.

Stockman's program on the computer not allowing Chaplin access as well as mocking him is just like Wayne Knight's character in Program Form mocking Samuel L. Jackson's character and not allowing him to access a needed program in Jurassic Park.

Season 1: Easy
Season 2: Easy (earlier episodes), Moderate (later episodes). The cheapest way to collect the later episodes is to buy the individual discs.
Season 3: Difficult (Turtles Against H.A.T.E. has not been on eBay for at least three months now, and currently is asking for $150 on Amazon). The other volumes are a bit easier to find, but are still harder than earlier seasons.
Season 4: Difficult (See Season 3, though the second half of the Season is a bit easier to find)
Ninja Tribunal: Difficult (currently no Region 1 copy on eBay and Amazon and the last sold in July for $41).
Fast Forward: Moderately Easy
Back to the Sewers: Very Difficult (You will need a region-free player and an Australian import)
Turtles Forever: Easy

If the 4kids section had something along the lines on "attempt to reference the old toon" from the general board, this thread would service the Pop culture references and notables sections, while there is a separate thread discussing mistakes/errors. For voice cast information, there is a separate thread for that as well. Since there are very few pizza references, this thread covers this as well. In the future, I may make a fourth wall, catchphrase, wacky inventions, and kidnapping thread(s) relating to this series.